Hand composition of matrices for typographical slug-casting machines



May 9, 1939. J. E. BILLINGTON ET AL l 2,157,782

HND COMPOSITION OF MATRICES lFOR TYPOGRAPHICAL SLUG-CASTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 6, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l i.:JJJJJJJJiiLLiiiJiiJJiiLLLLiL JO/,f/VERNESTB/LL/NGTONDECD BY 47,4RYL-'LLE/\/ BML/NG To/v, EXEcuTR/XA ND RICH/4 RD HENRYSCOTT Patented May 9, 193g UNITED STATES HAND COMPOSITION F MATRICES FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL CHINES VSLUG,-ons'rnvof MA- John Ernest Billington, deceased, late of Crewe, England, by Mary Ellen Billington, executrix, Crewe, England, and Richard Henry Scott, Enlield, England, assignors to Linotype and Machinery Limited, London, England, a British company Application August 6,

1937, Serial N0. 157,756

In Great Britain August 14, 1936 13 Claims.

This invention relates to the hand-composition of matrices for typographical slug casting machines such as those known under the registered trade-mark "Linotype. o

When it is desired to set matrices of abnormal size, and in some other special circumstances, it is common practice to compose the line in a handstick and to transfer it therefrom to the assembler elevator of the machine, and the present invention is directed to the form of hand-stick employed for that purpose.

The hand-stick commonly employed at present consists of a metal base having end walls between which the matrices are rested edgewise upon the base side by side, and the width of the base is approximately the same as the length of a matrix. It has not been general practice to incorporate spacebands in a line which is hand-composed in this Way and it will be clear that it would not be convenient to do soA since the spacebands, which are much longer than the matrices, would not be adequately supported by such a narrow base and could not therefore, be retained satisfactorily in the line.

The main object of the invention is to overcome this diiiiculty and to provide a hand-stick suitable for the composition of lines embodying spacebands, and with this object in view, the invention consists in a hand-stick for composing a matrix line to be transferred to a typographical slug casting machine comprising an extendedV member movably or removably secured thereto adapted to form a support for spacebands assembled in the hand-stick. l

The invention also contemplates the modification of any other form of hand-stick in order to incorporate the invention set out above, and the invention accordingly consists further in an attachment for a typographical matrix composing hand-stick comprising amember movably or removably securable to the stick for the purpose of supporting the projecting limbs of spacebands during composition of a line in the hand-stick.

The invention as specified in the preceding paragraphs may further comprise means for providing additional support for the matrices and/ or means for clamping a'line in the hand-stick after composition pending its transfer to the assembled elevator.

The invention will be clearly understood from the following description of two forms (given however, merely by way of example), which it may assume, and this description will be more readily followed by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figures 1 and 2 represent respectively in plan and side-elevation one form of hand-stick according to the invention:

Figure 3 represents an end View, partly in section oi a stick such as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 showing the manner in which matrices and spacebands are held thereby as they are inserted into the machine:

Figures 4, 5 and 6 represent views corresponding to those of Figures l, 2 and 3 of another form of hand-stick according to the invention, and

Figure 7 represents a modied detail which may be employed.

In carrying the invention into effect in one convenient manner as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, a hand-stick comprises a base a formed of a metal strip having a longitudinal step b adjacent to one edge, and a toothed rack c projecting downwards from the edge of the stepped portion. A carriage d beneath the base having a slot to accommodate this rack, which thus acts as a rail for the carriage, extends over the edge of the strip and across the top surface of the step and base, and carries an upstanding membe? e forming one matrix-supporting end wall of the stick, extending across the base. A pawl f pivoted to the carriage d is urged by a compression spring y to engage the toothed rack c and hold the carriage, with'its end wall, in any desired pre-set position, which can be determined by scale markings on theupper surface of the base in accordance with the length of line to be composed.

A slide h below the base, and longitudinally movable, to a limited extent, relatively thereto, projects at its end upwards through a slot i in the base at one end thereof and carries the other endwall 1c of lshe stick. A fixed hand grip Z extends downwards from the base, and a like grip m extends downwards from the slide h while a cylindrical projection 1L from the slide h extends towards the fixed grip Z and accommodates therein a pin, rigidly secured to the xed grip, and a spring o surrounding the pin, which is under compression between the head of the pin and a flange at the open end of the cylindrical projection. This spring urgesI the grips together and thus normally urges the end-wall on the slide towardsthe adjusted end-wall, in order to grip the composed line, but the end-walls may be separated, against the action of the spring, by a linger-operable cam p pivoted on the cylindrical projection and bearing against the fixed grip.

To provide an extended support for spacebands, there may be provided for combination with a hand-stick such as described above, a T-shaped member r formed of two metal strips riveted together, the central limb being adapted to lit into a slot, provided between the under-surface of the base and the plate whereby the fixed grip is secured to the base. A leaf spring riveted to the under-surface of the central limb of the T-piece may be adapted to engage a recess in the plate of the fixed grip in order to hold the T-piece in position, and a knob s may be fitted on the undersurface of, and at the junction of the T-piece to facilitate handling. The cross-member of the T- piece is of approximately the same length as the hand-stick base, extending substantially in the plane of the matrix supporting area or base of the stick, and is held, by the central member, at such a distance therefrom, as to form a support for the remote ends of spacebands in the stick.

In place of the removable T-Diece, a hand-stick according to the modied form of the invention shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 (wherein the parts having similar reference letters to those in Figures 1 to 3 are arranged and operate in the manner described) may be fitted with a permanent spaceband support, in the form of a U-shaped rail t pivoted by its free ends to the ends of the hand-stick base, and having a spring-pressed detent u on each arm adapted to engage notches in bosses at or adjacent to the pivots. In place of the detents, at springs o on the arms of the U-member, adapted to engage the notches, may be employed (Figure '7), the notches in either case being arranged so that in its working position, the U-shaped member lies substantially in the plane of the hand-stick base, and in a non- Working position projects downwards (as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6), so as to cause no obstruction.

It should be understood that the invention is not restricted solely to details of the forms described above, and various modifications may be introduced as they become necessary or desirable in order to carry the invention into effect under different conditions and requirements which have to be fullled, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Having described our invention, we declare that what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hand-stick for composing a matrix line to be transferred to a typographical slug casting machine comprising an immovable base for receiving the matrices and spacebands and a relatively movable member extending therefrom to form a support for the spacebands, said support being of substantially the same longitudinal dimensions as said base and located in substantially coplanar relation therewith.

2. A hand-stick for composing a matrix line to be transferred to a typographical slug casting machine comprising an immovable base for receiving the matrices and spacebands and a member removably secured thereto, and extending therefrom to form a support for the spacebands, said support being of substantially the same longitudinal dimensions as said base and located in substantially coplanar relation therewith.

3. A hand-stick for composing a matrix line to be transferred to a typographical slug casting machine comprising an immovable base for receiving the matrices and spacebands, a socket in said base, and a member detachably inserted in said socket and extending from said base to form a support for the spacebands, said support being of substantially the same longitudinal dimensions as said base and located in substantially coplanar relation therewith.

4. A hand-stick according to claim 3 wherein said member is of T-shape.

5. A hand-stick for composing a matrix line to be transferred to a typographical slug casting machine, comprising a base for receiving the matrices and spacebands, and a member movably attached thereto, adapted when desired to be moved to a position in which it affords support for the projecting spacebands.

6. A hand-stick according to claim 5 comprising a U-shaped member articulated to said base.

7. A hand-stick according to claim 5 comprising spring means for holding said movable member in its spaceband supporting position.

8. A hand-stick for composing a matrix line to be transferred to a typographical slug casting machine, comprising a base for receiving the matrices and end-walls at least one of which is spring-urged towards the other to clamp the line.

9. A hand-stick according to claim 8 comprising means whereby when desired, the clamping pressure on the line may be relieved.

10. A hand-stick according to claim 8 comprising a finger-operable pawl for relieving the spring pressure urging said end-walls together.

11. A hand-stick for composing a matrix line to be transferred to a typographical slug casting machine comprising an immovable base for receiving the matrices and spacebands, end-walls on said base between which the line is assembled, one of said end-walls being adjustable relatively to the other end-wall in order to predetermine the length of line receivable in the stick, and a member extending from said base to form a support for the spacebands, said support being of substantially the same longitudinal dimensions as said base and located in substantially coplanar relation therewith.

12. A hand-stick for composing a matrix line to be transferred toI a typographical slug casting machine comprising in combination an immovable base for receiving the line, a relatively movable support for spacebands assembled in the line, said support being of substantially the same longitudinal dimensions as said base and located in substantially co-planar relation therewith and means for clamping the composed line in the stick.

13. An attachment for a typographical matrix composing hand-stick comprising a member detachably securable to the stick and adapted to extend therefrom for the purpose of supporting the projecting limbs of the spacebands during composition of a line in the hand-stick.

MARY ELLEN BILLINGTON, Executrz of the Estate of John Ernest Billing-ton,

Deceased.

RICHARD HENRY SCOTT. 

